Check for safe keeping of articles.



No. 840,168 PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

F. G. STEVENSON.

CHECK FOR SAFE KEEPING 0F ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1905.

[name 747M565: v fied lazkflkomsom 1!- NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n.c,

Keeping of Articles, of which the following is UNITED STATES PATENToFFIon.

CLARK STEVENSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOMOYE W. STEPHENS AND MILO HENRY SMITH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed January 12, 1905. Serial No. 240,700.

and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement inChecks for Safe a specification.

This invention relates to a check device for identification of personalproperty, left with a custodian at a hotel or package-checking depot;and its principal object is to provide a device which will be-cheap andconvenient and which can be readily and easily marked with numerals orcharacters for identification purposes.

My invention also includes an identification check or fastener memberwhich can readily and instantaneously be attached to or be detached fromany article of wearing-apparel, grip, &c.', and at the same time providea smooth flat surface upon which an identification number or charactermay be readily and easily stamped by means of a die or other suitablemeans.

In providing a checking device of the character described I haveproduced blank spaces whereby the person supplying the checking devicesto the hotel or parcel-storing depot can readily supply checks with anysuitable number or symbol marked thereon that may be required. I

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the check device comprising twoconnected tablet members suspended on a suitable support. Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing the members of the check device separated andone of them appended to the property checked. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the check member which is adapted for attachment to theproperty.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the check device is composed of two members1 2, flat throughout, each of which comprises a tablet portion 3 3,which may have suitable marks or ch aracters 4, said marks or charactersbeing identical or correspondent on the two members,

being, for example, identical numerals. These members 1 2 are hereintermed, respectively, the fastener member and the check member, as thefirst embodies the fastener for securing said member to the ary 'ticleto be checked and the other member is the identification-check given tothe owner of the article and is the check by which such article iscalled for and delivered.

The member 1 is provided with means for detachably engaging the member 2to connect the two members together. For this purpose the member l-mayhave a spring clip or clamp fastener 5, whose jaws are adapted to enterand engage in a slot or opening 6 in the member 2. Said spring clip orclamp fastener may be of any suitable formfor example, a lever 7,pivoted at 8 on lugs 9, turned up from the edges of an extension 10 ofmember 1, the said extension and lever 7 carrying the respective jaws ofthe clip or clamp.

A spring 12, engaging between the said lever and the part 10, serves topress the jaws together. At the end remote from the jaws the lever 7 hasa thumb-piece 13 to enable convenient operation thereof in opening thejaws. The tablet portion 3 of member 1 may have an opening 14 to enablethe said member, with-or without the member 2 appended thereon, to behung on a suitable supportfor example, on a hook 15, as shown in Fig. 1.The two members may thus be kept associated with or attached to oneanother, and when an article or piece of property is to be checked themembers are separated by releasing the fastener 5 from the member 2, andsaid fastener 5 may then be extended over and clamped upon the articleto be checked. Thus in Fig. 2 the fastener member 1 is shown as attachedby its fastener 5 to the rim of a hat, (indicated at 16,) which in turnis hung on a suitable support, (indicated at 17.) The check member 2,which has been detached, is handed to the owner of the property to bekept by him until he reclaims the property.

The tablet portion 3 of the fastening member 1 is a continuation of theextension 10 and is in the same plane, while the check member 2 is alsoflat throughout and provided with the opening 6, through which theupturned end of the body 1 is inserted to attach the two memberstogether when not used to identify any article. Thus it will be seenthat the two members will lie flat upon any surface upon which it isdesired to place them when marking the numbers or characters upon themby means of a die. It is to be observed that the two members are thusadapted to be laid flat upon an ordinary surface, such as an anvil orlike instrument, Without the aid of any other holding device ordisconnecting them from each other, thus materially eheapening andfacilitating the manufacture of the checking device, as Well aspresenting to view in the plainest manner the numbers or charactersplaced thereupon.

It is thus seen that I provide a fastener member containing means forreadily engaging the rim of a hat, the lapel of a coat, an umbrella, thestrap of a suit-case, and even the finest textile fabrics Without dangerof injury thereof and that the device particularly recommends itselfbecause of extreme simplicity and efliciency, saving time and labor inattaching and detaching.

What I claim is- A check device comprising a fastener member comprisinga flat base portion having upturned flanges or ears and an upturned endforming a gripping-j aw, a spring-actuated portion pivotally mountedon-said flanges or ears and having a forwardly-extending end providedwith a downward-turned end forming a gripping-j aw cooperating with saidfirstnamed jaw and With a rearvvardly-extending portion, said flat baseportion extended in the same. plane to form a solid integral flatextended portion adapted to receive a number or identification-mark andprovided With a perforation at its rear end by Which the fastener membermay be suspended, in combination with a check member in flat form toreceive a corresponding number or identification-mark and also providedWith a perforation adapted to receive said gripping-j aws;

In testimony WhereofI have hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles,California, this 30th day of December, 1904.

FRED CLARK STEVENSON.

In presence of- A. P. KNIGHT, JULIA TOWNSEND.

